Queen Liliuokalani
Ann Hood
Queen Liliuokalani
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
royal prisoner
by Ann Hood
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
The salty breeze carries whispers of the ocean as the twins step into a world where history comes alive. The shimmer of a jeweled crown sparks magic, whisking Felix and Maisie back to the vibrant islands of Hawaii long ago. There, among the royal palms and ancient stories, they meet a girl destined to be a queen — but the adventure is just beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade historical fiction follows twins Felix and Maisie as they use magical time travel to explore Hawaii in the late 1800s. Along the way, they meet Lydia, who will become Queen Liliuokalani, providing readers with an engaging introduction to Hawaiian history. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story blends fantasy elements with real historical figures, and contains no intense content.
Why we rated Queen Liliuokalani 9C
Queen Liliuokalani is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 154 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Queen Liliuokalani works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Queen Liliuokalani as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Queen Liliuokalani explores twins, brothers and sisters, kings, queens, rulers, history, and time travel — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about twins, brothers and sisters, kings, queens, rulers.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780448457291
- Pages
- 154
- Publisher
- Grosset & Dunlap
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction